Sun Microsystems will acquire open source database developer MySQL AB for approximately $1 billion, the companies announced this morning. Sun characterized the move as its entry into the $15 billion corporate-database market.

When Sun reported $89 million in income on $3.2 billion in revenue last quarter — a 1 percent increase year-over-year — analysts wondered if the company would ever grow again. "What we need to see is if this company can ever grow again, and the jury is still out on that question," noted one analyst. Today's move should assuage some of those questions for now. Though it's unlikely as anything to change Sun founder Bill Joy's dismal views on the fate of humanity.